The Jets have inked a groundbreaking deal with star cornerback Sauce Gardner, and at first glance, this contract is making waves as the largest ever signed by an NFL corner. However, as we dive deeper into the numbers, there’s more than meets the eye.
Let’s break down the details of this impressive agreement. Gardner is set to receive a signing bonus of $13.75 million, which will be fully paid by September 30, 2025. His base salary for 2025 will be $1.25 million, guaranteed in full. Moving to 2026, Gardner’s contract offers a $20 million option bonus, also fully guaranteed. Additionally, he’ll earn a $250,000 workout bonus, contingent upon his participation, alongside a base salary of $5.25 million, all guaranteed.
The deal continues to show strength in 2027, where Gardner has a guaranteed $10 million option bonus, with that bonus becoming fully guaranteed in March 2026. He also sees another $250,000 workout bonus for 2027, and his base salary will significantly spike to $13.953 million.
But that’s not all. For 2028, Gardner has a workout bonus of $250,000 and a base salary of $19.2 million, both guaranteed for injury at signing and then full guarantees kicking in as the contracts progress. Finally, the 2029 and 2030 years expand upon this with additional bonuses and sizable base salaries that reflect his value.
When looking at the new-money average per year, Gardner’s contract reaches an impressive $30.1 million, edging out Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. by a narrow $100,000 per year. Yet, there are some intriguing contrasts between the two deals. While Stingley’s contract secures him for a total of five years with an extension, Gardner’s sits at six years, bringing its own set of nuances.
Stingley’s guarantees are notably more robust; he has a total of $89 million guaranteed, with $48 million fully guaranteed at signing and a staggering $68 million guaranteed by 2026. Conversely, Gardner’s guarantees come to $85.65 million, including $40.5 million upfront.
Cash flow is another area where Stingley takes the edge, with better initial payouts in the early years of his contract. Notably, he’s set to receive $6 million more in 2026 and $7.3 million more through 2027 compared to Gardner.
Ultimately, while Gardner’s deal is undoubtedly a remarkable accomplishment, especially considering he faced a less-than-stellar 2024 season, the Jets’ willingness to rework this contract at this juncture may have been driven by a desire to capitalize before his value potentially surged back to the all-pro levels he showcased in 2022 and 2023. There’s no doubt that the Jets, with this strategic move, are making a firm statement about their commitment to securing their defensive cornerstone for the foreseeable future.
